Approval authority for the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is typically by which rank?

• A. Major General and above
• B. Brigadier General and above
• C. Colonel and above
• D. Lieutenant Colonel and above

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the Meritorious Service Medal is approved at a general-officer level because it recognizes substantial, noncombat contributions that typically have broad impact beyond a single unit. A Brigadier General or higher has the appropriate senior authority to review and authorize such recognition, ensuring the award reflects sustained meritorious service across commands or missions. Lower-rank officers, such as Colonels or Lieutenant Colonels, generally do not have final approval authority for this decoration, which is reserved for general officers to validate the significance of the service being recognized. While higher generals (for example, Major Generals and above) can also approve MSMs, the standard threshold for the approval authority is Brigadier General and above.